Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center

Located in the former Smyrna Fitness Center, the all new Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center is an exciting addition to Rutherford County. The 12,000 sq. ft. facility houses an art gallery, showcasing work from local artists, traveling educational exhibit hall, rock climbing room, indoor playground, soft play area for younger children, birthday party rooms, as well as space for camps, special events and educational programs.

On the day we went to the SOAC, the traveling exhibit was Trivial Pursuit: A 50 State Adventure. There was an interactive exhibit for each of the 50 states and my kids had an absolute blast running through and doing the activities. This exhibit will be in place throughout the Summer and will be replaced in the Fall with something completely new. The SOAC plans to rotate out exhibits every 3-4 months, which means there’s always something new to see and do!

The indoor rock climbing room is open to everyone ages 8+, making it a perfect place for older siblings who aren’t interested in the exhibits to hang out. With several different styles of climbing space available, there’s no way your kids will be saying they’re bored! There’s something in the climbing room to challenge everyone, no matter your age or previous climbing experience. There are built in belays, and the floor is made from a thick, foam mat, making it safe for kids to explore.

The soft play room and indoor playground is right next door to the rock climbing room, and it is open to parents and their children under 12 years old. Children must be 5+ to climb the rope tower to the upstairs playground, but there is plenty to do downstairs for the under 5 crowd. Everything is enclosed in a room with one entry/exit, allowing you to keep an eye on your children without having to chase them around a large space. Keep in mind that both the rock climbing room and the upper level indoor playground require closed toed shoes to play!

In addition to all of the fun offered indoors, outside you’ll find what SOAC manager, Janet Amend, calls Smyrna’s mini Nashville Shores. The all new aquatic center features a swimming pool with a rock climbing wall, 3 large water slides, lazy river, a separate pool area for younger children with spray features and a water slide, splash pad, sand volleyball courts, concession stand, plenty of seating and umbrellas to sit in the shade. There were several lifeguards on duty while we were there and they seemed to be doing an excellent job keeping an eye on things, even though it was quite busy that day. One thing you’ll want to remember if you plan to visit the SOAC and Splash Town on the same day – you must be completely dry to enter the SOAC. My suggestion would be to enjoy the indoor activities in the morning, eat lunch and then head outside to Splash Town.

There is a separate parking area for Splash Town located near the entrance, with overflow parking at the back of the Smyrna Skate Center. Several large shade trees outside of the pool area to sit and picnic, which is always a plus for those looking to pack a lunch! I will say, though, that we wanted to try out the food at the concession stand and I am so glad we did! Everything was reasonably priced and the quality of the food far exceeded any concession stand I’ve ever eaten at! If you’re feeling rushed to get out the door and don’t want to bother packing food, definitely consider just bringing a little extra cash with you instead.

As you can see, there is plenty at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center to keep your family entertained all year long. Our family is considering purchasing an annual membership so that we can enjoy everything the SOAC has to offer throughout the year. There are two types of family membership options available. A SOAC membership for $150 for up to 6 people or the All Inclusive membership for $200 which includes access to Splash Town. Each additional family member is just $20, making it an affordable option for larger families, as well. There are also membership options available for singles and for up to 2 people.

For more information on upcoming events, summer camps, homeschool classes and more, visit the SOAC website and be sure to like their Facebook page!

About the Author: Crystal Bowron

Crystal was born and raised, and now raising a family of her own in Middle Tennessee. She currently lives in Murfreesboro with her husband Glenn, and their three children; Hunter, Grayson, and Hailey. They are an unschooling family, meaning they spend lots and lots of time out and about exploring all that this area has to offer!